The Machine performing Pink Floyd at Landis

View full sizePhoto providedThe Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute band, will perform at the Landis Theater in Vineland, Saturday at 8 p.m.

Today, there are tons of tribute bands out there, but back in the late ’80s, when Joe Pascarell and his friend, Tahrah Cohen, were playing in New York bars, it was almost unheard of.

“Like all 20-year-old kids we wanted to be in a rock band,” Pascarell said. “So we thought, ‘Let’s start our own band and let’s just play the music we like.’”

They liked all kinds of music. They were both big fans of Talking Heads, INXS and Led Zeppelin.

But, playing the music of Pink Floyd was definitely a favorite.

“We got our first big gig and people reacted really positively,” Pascarell said. “We thought we should learn some more Pink Floyd songs. An agent heard about us and said he could get us more gigs as a Pink Floyd band.”

Some 20 years later, The Machine — guitarist Pascarell, Cohen on drums, Ryan Ball on bass and vocals, and keyboardist Scott Chasolen — tour all over the country, with a stop planned at the Landis Theater in Vineland, Saturday at 8 p.m., performing the songs made famous by British rock band Pink Floyd.

“It was never a conscious effort to form a tribute band. That’s the great thing about it,” Pascarell said.

And their fans are always thrilled to see them perform. Other Pink Floyd tribute bands have emerged on the scene, but none of these bands put on a show that pulls from a diverse mix of Pink Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, said Pascarell.

“We capture the essence of Pink Floyd,” he said.

They do more than that.

The Machine has been called America’s top live Pink Floyd experience. It’s an experience that includes lighting and amazing effects to accompany the band’s music. They’ve also been known to play entire albums during their shows. The quartet also performed alongside several symphony orchestras, including the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and just released an album, “Symphonic Side of the Moon,” in which the band performs the music from “Dark Side of the Moon” with a symphony orchestra.

Growing up, both Pascarell and Cohen were fascinated by Pink Floyd.

“Their music develops very slowly. That’s what makes it different,” Pascarell said. “I’ve played ‘Comfortably Numb’ a thousand times and I still marvel at it.”

For their show in Vineland, Pascarell promised the foursome will play some favorites as well as some obscure gems.

“We usually figure it out an hour before we start,” he said with a laugh.

At 50, Pascarell still enjoys his life of traveling, touring and performing. Even though it’s a lot more difficult than it was when he was 25, it’s “still better than going to an office every day,” he said.

“I make my living doing my favorite thing,” Pascarell said.

And the fans make it all worthwhile.

“Every audience is different. There’s a different energy every night. It always feels new,” he said.

If you go: The Machine comes to the Landis Theater, 830 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 and $25 and can be purchased at www.landistheater.com, at the box office located at 830 East Landis Ave., or by calling 856-691-1121.